The Umauma Falls waterfall swim is a private session in a closed section of the Umauma River in Hakalau, 30 minutes north of Hilo, with kayaks and stand-up paddleboards included for $92.50 per adult plus tax. It suits families with children 4 and up who want a cool swim without the $249 zipline. The drawback is the strict 48-hour no-refund rule.
Highlights
$92.50 adult and $82.50 child (4–10) plus taxes and fees on the operator site; Greetwell lists from $85 and a swim-and-kayak version from $102 with lunch, as of October 2026.
Private river section with a waterfall pool; swimming, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are all included.
A seasonal 1-hour 'Quick Dip' version is $75 plus tax; the operator's hours page shows swim slots such as 12:30 pm and 1 pm.
Check-in 45 minutes before the tour at the visitor center, 31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Hakalau; about 30 minutes from Hilo, 2 hours from Kona.
Operator-wide 4.7 rating from about 1,400 Google reviews on Greetwell.
What to Expect
You drive to the Umauma Experience visitor center at the top of a steep concrete driveway off Old Mamalahoa Hwy and check in 45 minutes before your slot.
Staff take you to a private stretch of the Umauma River with a waterfall and pool that other tour groups cannot enter during your slot.
You swim in the cool pool under the falls; the operator's Zip N Dip page describes the main pool as about 70 ft deep with clear water.
Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are on hand for the river section, with staff nearby to help launch.
Lunch is mentioned inconsistently on the operator page; the 1-hour Quick Dip explicitly excludes it, so bring your own food unless confirmed.
You return to the visitor center after about an hour (Quick Dip) or the longer standard slot; last entry to view the falls is 4:30 pm.
What's Included
Private access to a section of the Umauma River and waterfall pool
Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards
Staff at the swim area
What's Not Included
Taxes and fees
Lunch on the Quick Dip (standard version unclear; confirm)
Transportation from Hilo or Kona
Towels and water shoes (not mentioned as provided)
What to Bring
Swimsuit, towel and a change of clothes
Water shoes for rocks
Closed-toe shoes for the walk down (operator-wide rule)
Food and water if not booking a lunch-inclusive version
Reef-safe sunscreen
Restrictions and Requirements
Minimum age 4; children under 15 must be with a parent or guardian
Not recommended for pregnant women or anyone with a history of neck or back injury
Tours run rain or shine
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at least 48 hours before the tour for a full refund. Inside 48 hours the booking is charged in full, though the operator may offer a reschedule with no refund. Checked October 2026 on umaumaexperience.com.
The Umauma Experience Visitor Center, 31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Hakalau, HI 96710 (steep driveway marked by a wooden overhead sign near the old Umauma bridge)
Check-In
45 minutes before tour time
Parking and Getting There
At the visitor center at the top of the driveway (details not published)
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
4.7
1,392 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
General Hamakua Coast waterfall swim sentiment applies.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 1 dated review (Greetwell/Google, August 2026, a zipline guest), the platform's summary of other reviews including three complaint themes, and 4 undated testimonials for this swim on the operator's page. Collected October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Uncrowded swimming hole(3 of 4 operator testimonials)
Three of the four testimonials on the swim page describe the pool as uncrowded, relaxing or a break from busier island activities; one names the guides.
— Operator website, rating not shown, undated: the swimming hole and waterfall were uncrowded and the guides were named with thanks.
Kayaks and paddleboards add value(1 of 4 operator testimonials, plus the Greetwell summary)
One testimonial praises the paddleboarding and kayaking; the Greetwell summary lists multiple waterfall access points and the gardens as property positives.
— Operator website, rating not shown, undated: swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking were all called wonderful.
What Reviewers Complain About
Serious injury blamed on staff inattention(1 report (summarized on Greetwell) · operator issue · most recent: date not shown)
One review summarized on Greetwell describes a serious injury caused by staff inattention on the property; the platform calls it isolated. The activity involved is not stated, so we flag it for the whole property.
— Greetwell (Google), star not shown, undated: a serious injury attributed to staff not paying attention.
Experience felt less personal than before(2 reports (summarized on Greetwell) · operator issue · most recent: date not shown)
A couple of reviewers felt guides focused mainly on safety instructions and the visit was less personal than on earlier trips.
About the Operator in General
The Umauma Experience in Hakalau runs ziplines, ATVs, e-bikes and river swims on one private property; its 4.7 from about 1,400 Google reviews on Greetwell (1,152 five-star, 34 one-star) covers all of them, and the one dated review praises staff for discounting when two zipline lines were down during island power outages in August 2026.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
For $92.50 plus tax this is a reasonable half-afternoon for a family staying in Hilo who want a private waterfall pool with kayaks and no adrenaline component. It is poor value for Kona-side visitors facing a 2-hour drive each way unless combined with the zipline or another Hamakua stop. The 48-hour full-charge cancellation rule and the inconsistent lunch wording mean you should confirm both by phone before booking.
Book This Tour If…
You are staying in Hilo or driving the Hamakua Coast and want a 30-minute detour
You have children 4 and older who want to swim and kayak in calm water
You want a private river section rather than a public waterfall trail
You can commit 48 hours ahead; refunds stop at that point
Skip This Tour If…
You are based in Kona or Waikoloa and this is your only reason to drive 2 hours
You are pregnant or have a neck or back injury history
You want a guided hike or a waterfall you can see without paying
You might need to cancel inside 48 hours
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Arrive 45 minutes early; the operator's FAQ applies the check-in rule to every tour.
Ask whether lunch is included in your slot; the swim page says both yes and no in different sections.
Bring water shoes and a towel; neither is listed as provided.
Book the 1-hour Quick Dip at $75 if you only want a swim; it is seasonal, so check the calendar.
Check the operator site for a direct-booking discount code; it advertised 20% off for bookings 3 or more days ahead in October 2026.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Umauma Falls private waterfall and river swim?
The Private Waterfall and River Swim costs $92.50 per adult and $82.50 per child aged 4–10, plus taxes and fees, on the operator's website as of October 2026. A seasonal 1-hour Quick Dip version is $75 plus tax, and Greetwell lists the swim from $85 and a swim-and-kayak version with lunch from $102.
Where is the Umauma Falls waterfall swim and how far is it from Hilo?
The swim is at The Umauma Experience, 31-313 Old Mamalahoa Hwy, Hakalau, HI 96710, on the Hamakua Coast. The operator's directions put it about 30 minutes from Hilo via Hwy 19 and Leopolino Road, and about 2 hours from Kona. Check-in is at the visitor center 45 minutes before your slot.
What is included in the Umauma private river swim?
The swim includes private access to a section of the Umauma River with a waterfall pool, plus kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and staff at the swim area. Taxes and fees are extra, transportation is not offered, and lunch is excluded on the Quick Dip; the standard page mentions lunch inconsistently, so confirm when booking.
Can children do the Umauma Falls waterfall swim?
Children aged 4 and up can take part, and children under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The operator does not state a swimming-ability requirement, but the main pool is described as about 70 ft deep, so non-swimmers should stay on the kayaks or paddleboards near staff.
What is the cancellation policy at Umauma Falls?
The Umauma Experience applies a strict 48-hour cancellation policy: cancel at least 48 hours before your tour for a full refund, while cancellations inside 48 hours are charged in full, with a possible reschedule but no refund. Tours run rain or shine. Checked October 2026 on the operator's FAQ.
Is the Umauma Experience well reviewed?
The property shows a 4.7 rating from about 1,400 Google reviews on Greetwell as of October 2026, with 1,152 five-star and 34 one-star reviews across ziplines, ATVs and swims. Reviewers praise named guides and the scenery; complaints summarized on the platform include waits in large groups, a less personal feel and one serious-injury report.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Umauma Falls & ZipLine Experience directly.
